Not Your Typical Scenic Drive: Discovering the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains

Just off the Parkway in Gatlinburg, one of the most unique car experiences in the country awaits. The Roaring Fork Motor Natural Trail is intentionally narrow and winding, giving travelers the sense they’re immersed in the woods, not just driving through.

The one-way drive along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail leads to a plethora of hidden treasures and breathtaking waterfalls. Moreover, there are more than a dozen options along the way to stop and explore, whether it’s at a roadside attraction or deep in the heart of the forest.

Start your engines and let’s take a ride on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

What Is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail?

It probably helps to start by answering the question, “What is the Roaring Fork?” While not quite a river, calling the Roaring Fork a creek feels like an understatement.

The Roaring Fork starts in the shadow of Mount LeConte’s (6,593’) steep northern face. Rainwater and snowmelt drop nearly 2,000 feet to Roaring Fork’s headwaters, which caves through the Roaring Fork community and to the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.

It was the power of this thunderous creek that brought settlers here. Gristmills were set up on the homesteads. From there, community members built wagon trails to get to and from Gatlinburg.

After the park’s establishment and the Mission 66 Era, an idea came up to make the rustic road into the Roaring Fork Motor Natural Trail — an adventure meant to make guests feel like they are enveloped in the forest. That’s why the road barely stretches 10 feet wide.

While the drive is scenic, this isn’t your typical scenic drive. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is more like a rollercoaster for your car – only you can’t go more than 10 miles per hour (nor would you want to) along the 5.5-mile stretch.

Much like Cades Cove, Mingus Mill, and the Mountain Farm Museum, buildings were preserved and restored to add to the allure.

How To Get To Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Gatlinburg’s street names are one way to navigate around, but each stoplight has a number. To access the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, turn onto Historic Nature Trail Road from Stoplight #8 on the Parkway.

Do not take Roaring Fork Road to start the drive, as you’ll end up at a dead end since the scenic drive is only one way.

You’ll travel 2.2 miles on Cherokee Orchard Road until it becomes one-way and forms a lollipop loop. Roaring Fork Road starts halfway through that loop. Eventually, it curves around to the Parkway at Stoplight #1A.

DRIVING TIP: On the way to the trail, turn onto Twin Creeks Road for a brief detour. This road is about as narrow as you’ll see on the motor nature trail. Plus, you can find one of our Hidden Gems of the Smokies here — the House of the Fairies.

When Is the Motor Nature Trail Open?

Due to the narrow road and potentially treacherous conditions in the winter, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail closes to vehicles from December 1 through late March each year. 

It generally closes and opens at about the same time as Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingmans Dome) Road and walking the trail is allowed in winter at your own risk.

The best time to drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is in spring when the waterfalls are robust or fall when the foliage is sensational. If you’re at the Great Smoky Mountains in the fall, this should be on your list of top 3 things to do.

Things to Do on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Hiking, history, and heralded waterfalls round out the trifecta of things to do during your drive on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Let’s look at each activity individually, even though several of them overlap.

Hikes

Three of the five most common hikes to Mount LeConte start on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Those are Bullhead Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, and Trillium Gap Trail. Each one offers a nearly seven-mile hike to the top, making a 14-mile round trip regardless of which trail you use to ascend or descend.

Much like the Roaring Fork falls deep from Mt. LeConte, the Roaring Fork area includes several veins of creeks that cascade down. One of the most popular trails in the park is Rainbow Falls, a 5.4-mile out-and-back adventure. Bull Head Trail and Trillium Gap start from the same parking area as Rainbow Falls.

In fact, the Trillium Gap Trail is the only hike that takes you over the Roaring Fork on the way to Mt. LeConte. Again, you can pick up Trillium Gap Trail at the Rainbow Falls parking area, where the hike parallels the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. However, it also has a trailhead two miles further on the road. That makes the roundtrip to Grotto Falls 2.6 (challenging) miles at the shortest. The long route is 6.6 miles.

LLOOKOUT FOR LLAMAS: The Trillium Gap Trail is used to bring supplies to LeConte Lodge. Three times a week, llamas are loaded up with gear and walked up and down the mountain only on Trillium Gap. The animals start the trail at 7:30 a.m. (but they arrive as early as 6 a.m. if you want a photo) and arrive back at the trailhead around 6 pm.

The Baskins Creek Trail starts at two spots on the motor nature trail and goes down to Baskins Creek Falls, a much less crowded trail and watering hole. You can pick that trail up from the Rainbow Falls parking area or on the other end of the road near the Grapeyard Ridge Trail. The out and back is 3.2 miles, no matter where you start.

If you’re curious about the Graveyard Ridge Trail, know that it goes deep into the backcountry, but the remains of a steam engine sit about 4.5 miles into the hike on Injun Creek (also called Engine Creek). Backcountry Campsite #32 is in this area.

Waterfalls

Two of the most popular waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be accessed from the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Plus, several more add to a delightful menu of waterfall options.

• Baskins Creek Falls (40 feet tall): Located off Baskin Creek Trail, you might have this one all to yourself. Be advised – the trail starts by descending in elevation, so you’ll have an uphill trek of almost 1,000 feet on the way back.
• Grotto Falls (25 feet tall): An easy-to-moderate hike takes you to this small but mighty waterfall with a swimming pool (though the park cautions against swimming). The trail gains 600 feet in elevation on the way up.

• Place of a Thousand Drips (20-30 feet tall): This series of cascades is literally a rock wall with water pouring in all directions. It’s right off the road, and limited parking is available to get a longer look.
• Rainbow Falls (80 feet tall): A trip to Rainbow Falls is best on a sunny day, as that’s when the spray forms the rainbow of colors. The trail gains 1,500 feet of elevation on the way up.

FIND THE RIGHT RAINBOW FALLS: Both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gorges State Park/Pisgah National Forest (NC) have a waterfall named Rainbow Falls. Avoid getting them confused when doing your research.

Most trails involve some kind of stream crossing. That can make a trail slippery, wet, and filled with (even more) bugs. However, if it’s too dry, the waterfalls might not be as dynamic or worth the hike to get to them.

Two lesser-known waterfalls in the Roaring Fork Motor Natural Trail area are Twin Falls and Dome Falls. Both can be reached on an off-trail trek up the Roaring Fork Creek. Only experienced hikers who can navigate tough terrain should consider this. The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club offers this guided hike once a year or so.

Historic Sites

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail includes several historic sites along the way, all preserved to preserve the “mountain life” culture of early settlers.

The Ogle Farm, Alex Cole Cabins, Bales Family Farms, and Alfred Reagan House all have parking areas with easy access just a few feet from the road. Two of our favorite grist mills in the Smokies are in this area.

Several family cemeteries are located deep in the woods, too. One of the lesser-known stories of the Smokies involves Jasper Mellinger, a man who died a brutal and untimely death on what is now known as Mellinger Death Ridge. His family lived in Roaring Fork, and the cemetery is off an unmaintained trail about two miles into the drive.

Parking on Roaring For Motor Nature Trail

Driving the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is free, as is the rest of the park, but a parking tag is required for anyone parking more than 15 minutes.

Parking areas range from decent-sized lots to roadside “is that really a parking spot?” spots. Once you’re on the trail, most parking areas have room for 2-3 cars, with a handful offering spaces for 10-20 cars.

It fills up quickly, and by “it,” I mean every single spot.

Parking is available at:

• Trailheads
• Historic Sites
• Two Overlooks
• Various Roadside Options

While researching, I came across a must-see shot from Google Maps Street View – this is what you can expect when trying to park on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The second half of the trail has less parking, thus more parking problems.

With one-way traffic only, the biggest problem you’ll face is getting around the illegally parked cars, especially near Grotto Falls. Don’t be one of those people!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Only passenger vehicles will fit on the twisty turns and narrow road of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Vehicles not allowed include anything longer than 25 feet (motorhomes, buses and vans). No towing of trailers is allowed with passenger vehicles.

Is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Scary?

Not at all. If you stick to the speed limit, keep your eyes on the road, and use extra caution after wet weather, you’ll do just fine. It’s nowhere near as white-knuckling as the unpaved Rich Mountain Road or a challenging off-roading experience as Parson Branch Road.

The road is steep and narrow, as mentioned earlier, but it’s paved smooth. Honestly, it’s more challenging for those who are claustrophobic than scared of heights. There are spots where the mountain rises above you, just inches from the passenger seat, and trees creep in from both sides of the road.

You also need to look out for bears. However, the park will close down the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail if bears are causing too many concerns.

Some people say that Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail has a ghost of a young woman named Lucy. She (allegedly) walks barefoot and in a nightgown around dusk or dawn, looking to hitch a ride home.

Discover the Wonders of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

As a one-of-a-kind experience in the National Park System, I’d recommend everyone try this route at least once. Two scenic overlooks are available through a gap in the trees in the first mile or so of the trail.

Winter visitors can drive as far as the Rainbow Falls parking lots. Even the frozen falls make an awesome winter experience.

The most important thing to bring to the Roaring Fork is patience. Traffic and parking problems are the only downside. The best time to take the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trails is at dawn or dusk. However, don’t stay too late. There are no lights on this dark, winding road.

Plus, there might be a hitchhiking ghost.